I just read Indonesia mobile operators review. I saw an interesting note about Mobile Number Portability in Indonesia. It said that Indonesian Telecom regulatory (BRTI) recommended the implementation of nation-wide mobile number portability from 2008 onwards in a phased manner. They have also sought Department of Post and Telecommunication (DPT) nod to review operators for providing and operating mobile number portability solutions, and my question: wondering how?
Mobile number portability offers cellular subscribers the freedom to change service providers while retaining their numbers. The regulator has also forwarded the draft request for proposal to DPT for the review of current operators which will be implementing, controlling and management of mobile number portability. BRTI had earlier set up a steering committee to deliberate issues pertaining to implementation of mobile number portability in Indonesia. Based on the interim report of the committee, the regulator has now come out with draft guidelines for appointment of a central agency. It was this steering committee which helped the regulator put together its interim report on certain key issues for this implementation. And the regulator has also clarified that telcos would have bear the cost of upgrade of their networks for the implementation of multiple number portability.
BRTI also said that in case of prepaid subscribers, they would not be able to avail credit transfer when the number is ported. This implies, pre-paid users will not be able to carry their balance to the new account, but will have to either consume the balance amount or forgo it - this will bring Indonesian Consumer Watch (YLKI) shouted!
From my review, there will be ‘break before make’ arrangement for completion of porting process i.e. connection from donor network to be disconnected first and then connection with recipient network will be made. However, efforts should be made so that break period should not be for more than certain short times...otherwise...
When I was in local operator, market surveys have shown that up to around 50% of all mobile users in Indonesia are unhappy with their operator, and are willing to switch to another service provider if allowed to retain their number. Number portability has so far been introduced in Australia, Korea, Japan, Canada, the US, UK, most of Europe and Pakistan, among other countries. And according to reports, its introduction has been followed by up to 50% subscribers switching operators in some of these countries.
Next question: is it possible in real implementation without sacrifice current subscribers?
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